Police roundup: 3 blamed in drunken brawl, escape

Authorities arrested two men and are pursuing charges against a woman in a drunken brawl at Testa Vineyards that culminated in the escape of one man early Sunday morning, according to the Mendocino County Sheriff's Office.

Deputies were summoned at 12:27 a.m. Sept. 8 by the California Highway Patrol for a report that people were riding golf carts in the road between Testa Vineyards on North State Street and the downtown Calpella area, according to the MCSO.

A witness told the first deputy who arrived that the golf carts were coming from the Testa Vineyards parking lot. The deputy responded to the vineyard and spoke with several people who "appeared to have been drinking," one of whom said he had been giving people rides from the vineyard's parking lot to an off-site parking lot in downtown Calpella, according to the MCSO.

Clyde Martinson, 48, of Redwood Valley, allegedly confronted the deputy "belligerent, intoxicated," and demanding that the deputy leave, according to the MCSO. As the deputy was dealing with the crowd, another golf cart driver who wasn't identified arrived and allegedly hit an object in the parking lot.

As the deputy approached the cart to see if anyone were hurt, Martinson allegedly threw a beer can at him, shoved him and demanded again that the deputy leave, according to the MCSO. The deputy called for backup "due to the hostile crowd surrounding him," the MCSO stated.

Some of the crowd eventually wrestled Martinson to the ground and held him.

More MCSO deputies and officers with the Ukiah Police Department, California Highway Patrol and Coyote Valley Tribal Police arrived to help with crowd control.

"It was then learned that some unknown person had stolen an ignition key" from one of the deputies' patrol cars, according to the MCSO. The key was later returned.

At one point, James Thompson, 49, of Redwood Valley, approached officers "in an agitated and belligerent manner," and was "obviously intoxicated," according to the MCSO. He was arrested on suspicion of being drunk in public and put in the back seat of a patrol car.

Officers then arrested the restrained Martinson on suspicion of battery on a peace officer and being drunk in public. He allegedly resisted officers and was also arrested on suspicion of resisting arrest.

While Martinson was being arrested, an unknown person freed Thompson from the patrol car, and he escaped in handcuffs, according to the MCSO. Deputies searched for Thompson and didn't find him. Martinson was taken from the scene and booked at the Mendocino County Jail.

At 10:25 a.m. the same day, Thompson surrendered at the Sheriff's Office on Low Gap Road. He had several injuries on his wrists, "where it appeared the handcuffs were cut off," according to the MCSO.

He was booked at the county jail on suspicion of petty theft, resisting arrest, escape and lynching -- a felony charge defined under California law as removing a person from a peace officer's custody by rioting. His bail was set at $100,000.

An anonymous tipster told deputies that Charlene Testa, 59, of Ukiah, was the person who let Thompson out of the patrol vehicle and aided his escape. During an interview, Testa allegedly admitted she was responsible for Thompson's release, according to the MCSO.

The Sheriff's Office submitted a case to the Mendocino County District Attorney's Office for a charge of lynching against Testa. Also submitted to the DA's Office and to the state Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control for review was a case for "possible sanctions against the holder of the liquor license" for Testa Vineyards, according to the MCSO.

The investigation continues. Anyone with information about anyone who helped Thompson escape is urged to contact the Mendocino County Sheriff's Office at 234-2100.